Flush-tank.



W. M. FULTON.

FLUSH TANK. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1914.

mama Nov. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

W. M. FULTON.

FLUSHTANK APPLICAT|0N F!LED APR. 28, 1914.

Patented Nov. 7; 1916.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WESTON M. FULTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR '10 THEFULT-ON'COMPANY,

OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FLUSH-TANK.

.i.....- Spe'cification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1916.

Application filed April 28, 1914. Serial No. 834,974.

- of a flexible metal section.

My invention has among its objects to reduce the time required forimmersion and for filling of the siphon. thereby starting the siphoningaction quicker; to remove unnecessary strams from the bellows connectionby taking the weight and its associated means off this connection and byreducing and regulating the throw of the siphon during its movements;and further, to generally improve the structure of this type of tankdischarge, whereby its eliiciency and durability may be increased.

With the above objects in view, my inven-' tion, broadly stated,consists in providing a siphon larger at its inlet end than at itsoutlet. and having a. cross section at the bend, the vertical dimensionof which is shorter than the horizontal dimension, and in providinglvarings for supporting the weight of the siphon tube'and its parts andadjustable limiting means for confining the swinging up and down of thesiphon tube on its hearings within limits suitable. for immersion andpreventing undue strains of the bellows connection.

The siphon may assume, under the above form, various shapes. but the onewhich I have found ellicient is one having a cross section in form of aparallelogram beginning at the mouth of the siphon and extending to apoint somewhat beyond the bend where it merges into a round crosssection terminating preferably with a [i go for attm'lnnent to thebellows connection. At

the bend the shorter dimension of the cross of a larger volume of waterto the flattened bend.

. invent-ion.

The bellows or flexible connection is pref erably in the form of a.corrugated collapsible and expansible metal tube, one end of which ismade fast to the end of the discharge pipe in the tank and theother endto the flanged end of the siphon tube. Vari ous means may be'used forlimiting the swmgmg movements of the siphon. The one illustrated and'theone which I prefer consists of a rod. the threaded ends of which passfre ly through holes inflanges, one of which is on the discharge pipeand the other on a part of the swinging siphon.

Heads or nuts on the rod confine the flanges between them tllld lllllll)the swinging movement in one direction. Movement in theopposite'direction is limited'by a sleeve placed on the rod between theflanges. The vibratory swings of the siphonhare thus con trolled betweenthe limits determined by the distance necessary for immersion of theshallow bend in the siphon, and the corrugated walls of the bellowsinove equally on both sides of its swing and to an extent justsutlieient for fillingthe siphon. thereby pro tecting the corrugationsfrom unnecessary strains. I

For the purpose of relieving the bellows from the weight of the siphontube and other parts. revoluble bearings are provided to support theseparts. The axis of support is preferably located between the ends ofthebellows and near a middle point. This support not only helps to relievethe Stt':ll11. l.)lll'.

gives a fixed and definite fulcrum on'which to balance and swing thesiphon.

l n order that the invention maybe moreclearly understood, reference isbad tothc accompanying drawings. which illustrat by way of example. onemechanical expres-' sion of the inventive idea, but such drawings areintended only to assist the description and not as defining the limitsof the Figure l pro verhents; Fig. 2 is a perspective view sonlmvhatenlarged, showing the means for i in elevation and partly inperspective. show;

is. a vertical sectional view through a flush ta-nlv provided wltl. my.im-

loo

ing the parts separated; and Fig. 4 is a perspeetive detail view showingsiphon pipe detached.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a 119 of a split ring 13 joint.

' BEST AVAILABLE cow 2 flush tank provided with a discharge pipe 3. Thefeed pipe 2 connects. inside the tank with a pipe 4 near the top ofwhich is connected a depending pipe 5 for delivering the waterncar thebottom of the tank and a pipe (3 conducting water to the discharge pipe3 for filling the hopper after each discharge.

7 is a float which operates a valve in the supply pipe through suitableconnections 8. siphon 9, preferably of my improved con struction, isconnected through bellows 10, such as a flexible corrugated metal tube,with an offset pipe 11 delivering into the tank discharge Pipe 3. Thcflexible corrugated connection 10-is provided with necks 1i. 1:" eachending in a flange 1 5. 13. The offset pipe 11 is also provided with aflange 1- to which flange 13, on the flexible connection. is secured bymeans of the two halves adapted to tit around the neck 12' and beboltcdto flange 14. a washer l i, prmided with suitable holes to receivethe bolts. being interposed to make a tight The opposite llangedend 13of the flexible Connection 10 is secured to the flanged end of thesiphontube between a split ring 17 on neck 12 and a ring 18 on thesiphon tube. Ring 18 may be, and preterably split for the purpose ofplacing it around the siphon tube and when a split ring is used theparts are arranged to break joints with split ring 17 on the neck of theflexible tube. A tight joint is formed by interposing a washerltLand'thc parts are clamped together by belts or screws in a well knownmanner. Should ring 18 be made integral, the flange terminating thesiphon tube is made after the ring IR is placed on the tube. The ring 18is: provided with arm 20 for the attachment of o|'ierating devices.'lhrough llangcsl-t, l7. l7 and 1S, and in line with each other. holesare provided for loosely receiving a limiting rod 21, slightly longerthan the normal length of tube 10. One or both ends of Lllis rod arethreaded to receive nuts 22 which limit the swing of the siphon in onedirec. tion which, in the illustration, is the downward or immersionswing. To limit the u ward swing, I In'eferably employ on rod '21 asleeve 23, which is somewhat; shorter than the distance between theflanges on the the; ible connection. An upward movement of the siphonbrings flange 17 against the end of sleeve 23 and terminates itsmovenu-nt. It is to be understood that do not wish to be limited to thespecific form of limiting means, as the same result may be secured inother ways, provided the sidcwise swings of the vessel are limited.

. In order to support the weight of the siphon and its attachments,while permitting a rocking movement to the flexible connection, twopairs of oppositely disposed hinges a feed pipe 2 and read\' forflushing.

are provided, each pair consisting of a mom-j her :24 secured to thermgnu-tubers if which m Han-ed to the end of the pipe llii di siphon toswing in a count erha ianeing to which one end of a spring '27 isattached. the opposite end ber 86;;

an opening in arm anl is l made fast to the ariuby anut 29 and an Thetension of the. spring mg secured to a threaded eye-bolt wl ich passesthrough thumb screw 30. is ad usted by means of. tlienut and screw.

In lieu of the spring a \veight may be used.

2 on the operating lever 33 such as weight 3 The siphon is normallykcptm orwcigbt. liotli ()n the bend of ripe H 35 secured to the.

f!) about the middle of the lcngi'h ffl ot' the flexible connection andprom-rly po-,

acting through linktil. the lower end oi which may be attached to one ofthe wing of the thumb screw,as illustratcd. or lmtllithe weightandsprlngmayjbe' used.

'lhe siphon tube is ii-culiarlv adapted to operate with the cw-fi'ollimgmeans as'so eluted with the flexilileaconucctiou and is illustrated ontlat rcetangular in cross section and conlllllltS in this form overithebond it; and to a point beyond the bend .where it begins to reduce insize and nu'i'gointo a circular flanged tcrminationfon the delivery leg.llus construction providcsa shallow bend measured verturallv. \\lllltl|:l\'ill i a seea rcduceil sc ale in l' ig. 4. 'lhe re eiving leg.33,ol'tthesiphon l.- made roe tional area larger tbanthe"dt-livcryopening oi the siphon. This form nt. tubienables a slight rise of waterin lthebcnd to till the tube and start. flow quickly and also enables asmall flexing movement olthe bellows eonncction to immerse the bend.which is of decided importance in thia eonnwtion.

Outside the tank is provided the usual operating means such as ajhandlei? for tilting a a pin -ll workingin a slotdiirthe end of level 33 whichl. lulcrunnal atdQ. The lever 33 is provided with prongs all whichengage hall t! to limit the extren'innp'ement of lever 3 i .L

The operation oi thedcvice is as follows: After the tank has been filledand the supply cut oil. in 'thejnsual manner. by the automatic cutmll'"means. the water stands in the tank at tbi-lcvel indicated and thehopper has been tilled through pipe (i. The siphon it standsinfltheupper dotted line position under the action ofspring 27 and Thehandle'il'l is moved to the left thereby lil'ting link 34. and arm 2!)extending from flangqring 18 on the siphon tube 9 wluchnow; swingsdownward on its hinged support. Water now fills the shallow bend 36whi'ch is immersed by the movement and starts the siphon action whichcontinues after the handle 37 is released and the spring 27 lifts theparts to their original position. It will be noted that the end of thebellows moves in a true circle, the center of which is in the axis ofthe hinge supports and that the angle through which it moves is limitedin one direction by the limiting rod 21 and nuts 22 and in the oppositedirection by the ends of sleeve 23 and that by proper adjustment of thenuts on rod 21 the angle on both sides of the longitudinal axis of thevessel may be equal and limited to the short distance necessary toimmerse the bend, thereby limiting the amount of flexure of the bellowsto a minimum and distributes equal wear on both sides of the vessel.

What is claimed is:

1. In a 'flush tank, a discharge pipe, a siphon tube, a flexible tubularconnection between said elements, flange means for securing theconnection to said pipe and tube, and means for flexing said connectionand limiting means consisting of a rod and sleeve between the ends ofwhich said flange means. has a play. for limiting the flexure of saidconnection.

2. In a flush tank, a siphon tube therein having a horizontallyflattened bend, the shorter leg of the siphon including the bend havinga sectional area which is larger than that of the delivery end of thetube, a flexible corrugated metal tube connected to said delivery end,hinge members for directing the flexure of said last named tube about apoint between the ends of the same, resilient means normally acting onthe siphon to hold it in a raised position,.and means for limiting theflexure of said tube on both sides of its normal position.

3. In a flush tank, the combination of a discharge pipe, a siphon tube,a flexible corrugated metal tube connecting said siphon and pipe, andmeans for limiting the flexure of saidconnection comprising a memberfast on one of said inflexible sections and a rod having stop meansloosely engaging said member and fast to a stationary part at itsopposite end.

4. In a flush tank, the combination of a discharge pipe, a siphon tubehaving a hinged supporton said pipe, yielding means for normally holdingsaid siphon in a predetermined position,

a flexible corrugated metal tube connecting said siphon and said metalpipe, and means comprising rigid members fast to said siphon and pipeand a rod provided with stop means having loose engagement with one ofsaid members and held by the other member for limiting the flexure ofsaid flexible connection.

5. In a flush tank, the combination of a discharge pipe, a siphon tubeand a corru--6 5 gated metal tube connected between said ele-- ments, anadjustable yielding means having a connection to said siphon fornormally holding said tube in a predetermined position, a rod providedwith stop nuts and supported on said tube and pipe for limiting theflexure of said connection in one direction and a sleeve on said rod forlimiting the flexure of the connection in the opposite direction.

6. In a flush tank, the combination of a, dlscharge pipe, a siphon tubehaving a flexible corrugated metal tube connection with said pipe and ahinged support for, said tube, a rod having stop means and supported onsaid tube and pipe for limiting the flexure of said connection in onedirection and a sleeve on said rod for limiting the flexure in theopposite direction.

- 7. In a flush tank, the combination of an a siphon tube having aflattened outlet pipe, bend the cross-section of which is larger hen theoutlet, and provided with a hinged support on said pipe, yielding meansnor-l mally holding said siphon in a predeter the flexure of saidconnection in one direc- 90 tion and a sleeve on said rod for limitingthe flexure in the opposite direction.

8. In combination a siphon having aflattened bend, the shorter leg ofthe siphon including the'bend having a cross section .7

which is larger than that ofthe delivery end and a flexible corrugatedmetal tube connected to the said delivery end to enable the immersion ofthe bend forfilling.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WESTON M. FULTON.

Witnesses: I

, H. T. PATTON, 'S. A. MARTIN.

